Joint and Several Liability in District of Columbia
State-specific overview · Tort Law
DC allows joint and several liability for all defendants, with no comparative fault cap or exception.
How District of Columbia treats Joint and Several Liability
District of Columbia courts apply joint and several liability to allow a plaintiff to recover the full judgment amount from any single defendant, regardless of that defendant's percentage of fault. DC has not adopted a comparative negligence cap that would limit joint and several liability to defendants above a certain fault threshold. This means a defendant found only 1% at fault can still be held responsible for 100% of damages if other defendants are uncollectible. DC's approach remains more plaintiff-friendly than many states that have restricted joint and several liability through legislative reform.
The general definition of Joint and Several Liability
Multiple defendants can each be held fully responsible for the entire judgment, not just their share.
When two or more people or companies are sued together for causing harm, the injured person can collect the full amount from any one of them, rather than having to split the recovery among all defendants. This means if you win a $100,000 judgment against three defendants, you can demand all $100,000 from just one of them, and that defendant can then try to recover their fair share from the others. It protects the injured person by ensuring they get paid even if some defendants can't pay.
Read the full Joint and Several Liability entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in District of Columbia.